It is that time of the school year, when students get to stay at home and enjoy family, friends, doing nothing, playing video games, or whatever we want to do. There is no class until after New Year‘s Day. This goes for me too, and I am enjoying it.

Our house is still trying to recuperate from Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning. I am finding bits of wrapping paper and ribbon everywhere. This was the first Christmas since my children were little, that I was able to watch the excitement and joy on a child’s face as they opened their presents. Since my children married and moved out, we always went to their house to “see what Santa brought”. By the time we got to each one’s house, everything was opened and scattered all over the living room. So we missed the expressions as they opened their gifts and were surprised. I was able to watch Jacob’s face as he opened first this gift and then that one. He was so excited, he had no more than finished one before he had started on another.

Those looks were worth a million bucks, but seeing his expression as he read an email direct to him from Santa, is indescribable. In the email, Santa, called him by name, pointed out different items regarding Jacob’s family and school, and finally put his name in the “Naughty or Nice” machine. It was adorable to see Jacob’s face as he anxiously waited to see if the machine labeled him naughty or nice. When the green light signified Jacob was nice, Jacob yelled and whooped and hollered. Then suddenly stopped, turned to us and said, “I knew it all the time”.

I am so glad I was able to be a part of his Christmas. I hope each and every one of you had as great a time as I this Christmas.

Please remember our military personnel who are fighting for our freedoms, and who are not at home with their families this year; please say an extra prayer that they can come home soon.